Fodder cutter



J. DICK F'ODDER CUTTER April 19, 1927.

Filed July 5 1925 4 sheets-Sheet 1 m 5 M 0 r a J. DICK FODDER CUTTER April 19, 1927.

Filed July 5 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dscssco azwlv/z,

g iler W April 19, 1927.

I J. DICK FODDER CUTTER Filed July 5 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IIIIIIIITITIII ll l e rid: eZZZcr W April 19, 1927. J. DICK ,FODDER CUTTER Filed July 5 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 gmc'ntoc DE: mssd 1, Cl? 12%, Emilia/:5 w frJ. .z ZeiiZer v I M (16370 wage! Patented Apr. 19, 19217.

JOSEEH DICK, DECEASED, LATE Q11 CANTON, OHIO; 33? CHARLES DICK, EXEGUTOR, OF CANTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE JOSEPH DICK MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CANTON, (11-119, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

FODIDER CUTTER.

Application filed July 3, 1925. Serial No. 41,399.

This invention relates to fodder cutters, and more specifically to the feed mechanism in machines for cutting corn stalks and other forage of considerable length which is inclined to overhang the feed trough, tending to fall away from the feed mechanism; and the object of the improvement is to provide an accumulating or gathering roll co-operating with the feed hopper and the feed rolls; to gather in all of said overhanging stalks of fodder and carry the same into the feed rolls.

The above and ancillary objects may be attained by providing a fodder cutter or the like having a feed mechanism including a pair of cooperating feed rolls, one of which is movable toward or from the other roll to permit the forage to pass through the rolls without choking or bunching, a gathering or accumulating roll being located in advance of the feed rolls and provided with gathering paddles tangential to a hub-cylinder upon the roll, and arranged to move bodily in any direction within a limited space. independently of the movable feed rolh and co-operating with a conveyor belt or the like to gather in the stalks of fodder and feed them to the feed rolls.

An embodiment of the invention thus set forth in general terms is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which:

Figure 1, is a perspective view of a fodder cutter embodying the invention;

Fig. 2, an enlarged perspective view of the opposite side of the feed portion of the fodder cutter;

Fig. 8, an enlarged side elevation of the feed portion of the fodder cutter, taken upon the same side of the machine as Fig. 1;

Fig. i, a perspective view of the fodder cutter looking into the feed trough;

Fig. 5. an elevation of the inner side of one of the disks of the gathering or accumulat ing wheel, and

Fig. 6, a section on the line 66., Fig. 5.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

The fodder cutter includes a case 1 hav ing the usual cutting and blowing mechanism therein rigidly mounted on the main shaft 2, which is axially journaled in the case and driven from any source of power through the drive pulley 3, and a feed trough 4: and feed hopper having an endless conveyor belt 6 therein.

Suitable gearing within the gear housing T transmits power from the main shaft 2 to the feed drive shaft 8a a sprocket wheel 9 thereon being operatively connected as by the chain 10 to a sprocket wheel 11 upon the conveyor apron drive shaft 12.

The lower feed roll 13, which may be pr0- vided with the spikes or teeth 14 is jourualed in stationary bearings within the throa" of the feed hopper the shaft 15 thereof being provided with a sprocket wheel 16 to receive power as through the chain 17. from the sprocket wheel, 18 upon the drive shaft 8.

The shaft 15 of the lower feed roll extends beyond the other side of the feed hopper into a gear housing 19 within which is mounted suitable gearing to transmit power to the radially movable shaft 20 of the upper feed roll 21 which may be provided with the radial blades or paddles 22 A universal ioint 23 connects the shaft 20 with the shaft 24 of the upper feed roll which shaft is mounted in bearings vertically movable within the guides 25 formed in the side walls of the feed hopper.

A link 26 connects each of the bearings of the shaft 24 with a rocker arm 27 carried by the rocker shaft 28 journaled in bearings 29 above the feed hopper, a coil spring 30 upon said shaft tending to normally urge the rocker arms 2'? downward to move the upper feed roll toward the lower feed roll.

The accumulating or gathering roll, indicated generally at 31. is provided with a shaft 32 carried in bearings The bearings of the gathering roll shaft are loosely mounted in quadrilateral openings 34, provided in the sides of the feed hopper, and which may be in the form of trapeziums, as illustrated. Each of the bearings 33 is connected by a link 85 with the shaft 24 of the upper feed roll, thus permitting free movement of the shaft 32 within the limits of the openings 34 and independently of the upper feed roll 21.

The gathering or accumulating roll preferably comprises two disks 36, fixed near opposite ends of the shaft 32, and provided ontheir inner faces with the sockets 37, substantially tangential to the hubs 38, padhtl dies 3. being secured at their ends in said sockets, so as to incline the paddles forward and outward as the roll. rotates.

For the purpose of driving the gathering or accumulating roll, a epri'icket wheel elt is mounted upon one end of the shaft; thercoi', and connected as by the chain til with a sprocket. wheel iii mounted upon the upper iced roll ahail't 2t. All of the parts are thus positively driven in the directions of the arrows shown in .l ig. ii of the draw ng.

In operation, the fodder to he cut. thrown into the teed trough and carried lorwariflly into the feed hopper h v the conveyor hell (8. As shown in l ig. :2, corn stalks or similar long plants, when piled indiscriminately into the feed trough. will overhang the sides: of the trough. and as they are carried foriard into the ttf'eed hopper hy the. conveyor hell: there is-1 a tcudcncv for these stalks to tiiall outward or lorward over the sides oi the hopper and (t niug 1.

By providing the accumulating! or g: thering roll with the tangential paddles, and i'nounted an ahore de -crihtal. all or these overhanging ntalka are gathered in by the roll and panned into the feeding rolls; and since the upper tending roll and the gather" ing roll are each movahle imlepe11dently ol the other and are normally urged down upon the incoming material. the feeding roll h nnane oi the spring 230 and the gathering roll by gravity, the material inav he kept continuously moving through the :lccd mechanism without choking or clogging the same. As shown in l ig. l. the upper l'eed roll may he rained to a co]naidcrahle height ahove the lower roll to permit an excessive amount. of fodder to pass through the rolls to the cutting mechanism.

ii the :torward inclination ot' the paddles oi" the gathering roll. any tendeiwv to slip upon and push beneath the l'odder in avoid ed; and as the stalks hood the rotating edges oil? the inclined paddles talae hold ot the fodder more or lese posit'ivelv. and gather and draw it down and under the gathering roll and advance it. to the feed rolls.

I claim:

l. Feed nuchanism for 'i'oddcr cutters and the like, including a feed trough having a teed mcchaniem therein. and a gathering roll in advance of the feed mechanism, and provided with tangential paddles.

:2. Feed mechanism for fodder cutter-e and the like, including a feed trough having a feed mechanism therein, and a gathering ean-1m roll in advance of the t'cedmechanism, pro-- vided with tangential paddles and arranged for indepeiulent movement.

3. Feed mechanism for fodder cutters and the like, includii'ig a teed trough having a it'ced mechanism therein, and provided with openings in its FltlOrS in advance of the feed lnechanisnr and a gathering roll provided with tangential paddles and having a shaft. cxtciuled into said openings and tree to move vertically and horimnt'allv therein.

-l. Feed mechanism for fodder cutters and the like, including a lead trough having a 'leed mechanism therein, and a. gathering roll in advance ol the feed mechanism and comprising t air of spaced disks and tangential paddles hetwecn said disks.

5. Feed mechanism for fodder cutters and the like, including a lfecd trough having a t'eed mechanism th rein, and a gathering roll in advance of the teed mechanism and coin 'irieing a pair oi? spaced disks and tancential paddles hetwccn said disks, said gathering wheel heing niovahle independent l oi? the teed mechanism.

ti. Feed mechanism for l'odder cutters and the like, including a Iced trough, a feed roll journaled in stationary hearings therein, a co-operating :li'eed roll journaled in movahle l')t}ti.tllt L'H and a gathering roll in advance ot the :lecd rolls and. provided with tan ential paddles.

1. Feed inechanis-au lor todder cutters and the like. inchuling a feed trough, a feed roll liournaled in stationary hearings thcrein, a cooperating feed roll jouri'ialed in movalile hearings. a gathering roll in ad vance ol the teed rolls and provided with tangential paddles and a link connecting the movahle tteed roll and gathering roll.

a. Feed mechanism 'lor 'lodder. cutters and the like. including a iced trough. a feed roll journaled in stationary hearings there.- in. a. co-operating l'eed roll journaled in movahle hearings and a ,gmthering roll in advance of the feed rolls and having taugcntial paddles, the trough having enlarged openings in its sides. a shall for the gathering roll extended into said openings, and a link connecting the movable feed roll and gathering roll.

in testimony that I claim the aloove as executor o! the last. will and testament; of Joseph Dick. de eased, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

CHARLES F. DICK, Ewccutor of J 0.90 071. Dick, deceased.

tit)

ill) 

